Method and apparatus for joining the edges of a tubular knitted article

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a method and apparatus for joining the edges of a tubular knitted article, such as a stocking, upon the completion of the latter on a circular machine; the apparatus comprises a movable carrier able to be associated with a knitting head of a circular machine, and the said carrier supports means for the removal of stitches of the last knitted rank, in which the means operate the removal of one semi-rank, that is, of half the stitches of said last knitted rank, and the means operate the removal of the other semi-rank; the movable carrier being provided with driving means and transfer means able to move the stitches of one semi-rank onto the means which remove the other semi-rank.

The present invention refers to a method and apparatus for joining theedges of a tubular knitted article, such as a stocking, upon thecompletion of the latter on a circular machine.

Methods and machines are known for closing tubular articles. Inparticular, the European Patents EP-0.592.376 and EP-0.635.593 disclosehow to close tubular articles, specifically with a hooked-up finish, bycarrying out the above said operation on the outer or right-side out ofthe article. The document Ep-0.942.086 discloses how to hook-up thefabric edges on the desired side by applying an operating method whichtakes into account the type of article's manufacturing machine. Inparticular, provision is made for possibly hooking-up on the inner orinside-out side of the article by removing in advance the same articlefrom a one-cylinder machine.

The above mentioned solutions, although representing undoubtedly anadvance with respect to the existing systems, suffer from somedrawbacks. One drawback relates to the excessive handling of thestitches, that is, an excessive number of transfers thereof to and fromvarious members which brings about a higher possibility of losses and/ordamages of the same stitches. Another drawback is the fact that themeans and machines so constructed may result relatively complex and thusapt to be industrialized only by industries exhibiting advancedtechnology and a high level of know-how. The above drawbacks, whichrelate to one-cylinder machines, hold true also in the case of removingthe articles from the lower cylinder of a two-cylinder machine, that is,in case the stitches are removed with their right side out.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the said drawbacks.

This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by providinga method and apparatus having the features disclosed in the independentclaims. Further characteristics being set forth in the dependent claims.

Among the advantages of the present invention, one is that it providesthe solution for the major problem concerning the case in which thearticle is removed from the cylinder of a one-cylinder machine or thelower cylinder of a two-cylinder machine, with its right-side out and bya limited number of stitch transfers; in fact, one importantcharacteristic of the operating method according to the presentinvention is that the transfer of the stitches from the first semi-ranktakes place by a 180°-overturning of the same means which have carriedout the removal thereof and, thus, without any transfer of the stitchesonto further means, thereby limiting the handling thereof. Moreover, theapparatus implementing the method according to the invention resultsextremely simple to make and reliable even after a prolonged servicelife.

These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will bebest understood by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of thefollowing description in conjunction with the attached drawings given asa practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be consideredin a limitative sense, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view, with parts in section, of a head for knitting anarticle (a stocking, in particular), which shows the head uponcompletion of the knitting of the stocking in correspondence of the toewhich remains open;

FIG. 2 shows the machine of the preceding figure, upon the subsequentoperating phase in which the plate is lifted to make the knitting headof the machine accessible, and in which the needles are lifted so as tomove each stitch up to the so-called “unloading” position, that is,below the respective latch of the needle;

FIG. 3 refers to the phase in which, according to the invention, amovable carrier provided with removal means is moved onto the knittinghead of the machine and the needles are further lifted so as to take thestitches to be removed above the sinkers;

FIG. 4 refers to a phase in which some of the above removal means—to bereferred to later on also as punches—are moved close to the relevantheads of the needles;

FIG. 5 refers to a phase in which stitch-pushing means, which can beused during the removal phase and are hereinafter referred to also ashooks—are moved below the stitches to be removed and disposed in aclosing configuration;

FIG. 6 refers to a phase for lifting the hooks and, along with them, thestitches which disengage from the needles and pass onto the removalmeans;

FIG. 7 shows the lifting of the punches which move away from theneedles, and the consequent lifting of the article now released from theknitting head of the machine;

FIG. 8 shows the phase in which the carrier is moved away, along withthe article supported thereon, from the knitting head of the machine;

FIG. 9 shows a subsequent phase in which the article is moved to ahooking-up station and inserted within a inside-out-turning tubepresented by the same station;

FIG. 10 shows the phase in which the inside-out-turning tube is lifted,thereby allowing the article to turned inside-out achieving the turninginside-out of the article with the initial end thereof oriented upwardsabove the rank of stitches removed from the punches;

FIG. 11 shows the final stage of the lifting operation, in which theturning-inside-out tube remains engaged with relevant supporting means(not shown) in correspondence of its upper end, while the lower end ofthe tube remains free and above the plane of the removed stitches, withthe article resulting fitted on the outer side of said tube;

FIG. 12 shows the phase in which the stitches of a first semi-rank areoverturned through substantially 180° about the diametral axis whichideally divides the circumference of the removed rank into twosemi-ranks;

FIG. 13 shows the phase in which, after the overturning shown in thepreceding figure, each member for the removal of the first semi-rank isin correspondence of a member for the removal of the second semi-rank,with the respective free ends thereof being close to each other;

FIG. 14 shows the phase in which the first rank-removing members arebrought back to their starting position by operating the above saidoverturning in the opposite direction;

FIG. 15 shows the stitch-supporting means—so-called spines—which aremoved close to the punches during the hook-up phase;

FIG. 16 shows how the stitches are transferred with a longitudinal pushby suitable means, in the example a crown coaxial to the circumferencedefined by the punches;

FIG. 17 refers to the phase of hooking-up the stitches and/or pairs ofstitches, fitted on the spines by hook-up means, by making the necessarychain-closing knots;

FIG. 18 refers to the phase in which the hooked-up stitches are releasedfrom the spines;

FIG. 19 shows an enlarged perspective view of a hook;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a possible embodiment of a movable carrieraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a view in section taken on line B—B of the movable carriershown in FIG. 20;

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are, respectively, a bottom view, an axonometricview, and a sectional axonometric view of the movable carrier shown inthe preceding figures;

FIG. 25 is a side view of a movable carrier during the overturning of arelevant sector of means for the removal of the first semi-rank;

FIG. 26 is a view in section taken on line F—F in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a front view of the movable carrier, that is, a viewangularly shifted through 90° with respect to FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a view in section taken on line E—E in FIG. 27;

FIGS. 29, 30 and 31 show the movable carrier during the overturningphase in a first axonometric bottom view (FIG. 29) from a point of viewsimilar to that of FIG. 25, a second axonometric bottom view (FIG. 30)from a point of view similar to that of FIG. 27, and a sectionalaxonometric view (FIG. 31);

FIG. 32 is an exploded side view of the movable carrier shown in thepreceding figures;

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken on line D—D in FIG. 32;

FIGS. 34 and 35 show axonometric bottom views of the carrier, frompoints of view similar respectively to those of FIGS. 32 and 33;

FIG. 36 is a front view of an embodiment, according to the invention, ofan inside-out-turning device with coaxial tubes in open condition;

FIGS. 37, 38 and 39 show the inside-out-turning device of FIG. 36respectively in a sectional view taken on line A—A in FIG. 36, asectional view taken on line B—B in FIG. 36, and an axonometric view;

FIG. 40 is an axonometric view similar to that of FIG. 39, with theinside-out-turning device being sectioned longitudinally;

FIGS. 41 and 42 refer, respectively, to a further axonometric view ofthe device of FIG. 36 and to an enlarged detail thereof;

FIG. 43 is a front view of one embodiment of the inside-out-turningdevice of FIG. 36 shown in closed condition;

FIGS. 44, 45 and 46 show the inside-out-turning device of FIG. 43respectively in a sectional view taken on line C—C in FIG. 43, asectional view taken on line D—D in FIG. 43 and in axonometric view;

FIG. 47 is an axonometric view similar to that of FIG. 46, with theinside-out-turning device being sectioned longitudinally;

FIGS. 48 and 49 refer, respectively, to a further axonometric view ofthe device in closed condition as in FIG. 43, and to an enlarged detailthereof;

FIGS. 50 and 51 are axonometric views of, respectively, the outer tubeonly, and the inner tube only, both tubes making part of the exemplaryinside-out-turning device shown in the preceding figures;

FIGS. 52 and 53 refer to enlarged details, respectively, of FIG. 50 andFIG. 51;

FIG. 54 is a rear view of a removal member making part of a pivotingsemi-rank;

FIG. 55 is a sectional view of the removal member taken on line A—A inFIG. 54;

FIG. 56 is axonometric view of the removal member sectioned as in FIG.55;

FIGS. 57, 58 and 60 show, respectively, the member of FIG. 54 inaxonometric view, in side view, and in top (FIG. 59) and bottom (FIG.60) axonometric views;

FIG. 61 is a rear view of a removal member making part of a fixedsemi-rank;

FIG. 62 is a sectional view of the removal member taken on line B—B inFIG. 61;

FIG. 63 is an axonometric view of the removal member sectioned as inFIG. 62;

FIGS. 64, 65, 66 and 67 show respectively the member of FIG. 61 inaxonometric view (FIG. 64), side view (FIG. 65), and in top (FIG. 66)and bottom (FIG. 67) axonometric views;

FIG. 68 is a side view of the engagement of a needle with a removalmember in a removal phase;

FIGS. 69 and 70 are axonometric views, respectively, of the engagementof FIG. 68 and of a detail thereof;

FIG. 71 is a side view of two removal members engaged with each otherduring the transfer of a stitch;

FIGS. 72, 73 and 74 show, respectively, a longitudinal section, anoverall axonometric view, and an axonometric view of a detail of theremoval members of FIG. 71;

FIGS. 75 and 76 are a side view of a removal member during a removal(FIG. 75) and transfer (FIG. 76) of a stitch;

FIGS. 77, 78, 79 and 80 are sectional views of details of the movablecarrier during the phases subsequent to said removal, showing themembers for moving the pivoting removal members and the stitch-pushingmeans during said transfer;

FIGS. 81, 82, 83 and 84 show sectional details of an alternativeembodiment of the movable carrier during the phases subsequent to saidremoval;

FIG. 85 is an outline side view of the movable carrier positioned on themachine's knitting head with a support column and an actuator for thevertical movement thereof;

FIG. 86 is a plan view of the movable carrier outlined in FIG. 85, withthe actuator for the movement thereof from and to the knitting andhook-up stations;

FIG. 87 shows a phase alternative to that shown in FIG. 15, in which ahook-up needle is moved close to the punches which support the stitchesonto the movable carrier, in order to hook-up stitches and/or pairs ofstitches, fitted onto the punches by means of the hook-up needle, bymaking the necessary chain-closing knots directly on the punches;

FIG. 88 refers to the phase, similar to that of FIG. 18, of releasingthe hooked-up stitches.

With reference to the figures of the attached drawings, an apparatusaccording to the invention comprises a movable carrier 300 which ismoved close to and away from a knitting head 100, and can be rotated andvertically displaced as well. FIGS. 85 and 86 show schematically themovement of carrier 300. In the example, the movable carrier 300 issupported by a relevant arm 10 horizontally disposed. The arm 10 iskeyed on the sleeve 302 which is fitted on a relevant hollow column 301.Provided inside the column 301 is a pneumatic lifting cylinder 303,whose rod 308 is fixed inside the sleeve 302 in correspondence of theproximal end 307 of the arm 10. In this way, an extension of rod 308corresponds to a lift of the arm 10 and of the movable carrier 300 aswell supported by the latter. The lower portion 309 of the sleeve 302 isprovided with a toothing 305. Also provided is a pneumatic cylinder 306,horizontally disposed, whose rod 310 supports a rack 304 complementaryto the toothing 305 and meshing therewith. The travel of rod 310 drivesinto rotation the sleeve 302 about its longitudinal axis a-a and,consequently, causes the supported movable carrier 300 to rotate aswell. Moreover, the toothing 305 moves to a height Q corresponding tothe vertical travel of the sleeve onto the column 301 (or longer thanthe latter); this allows rotating the arm 10 while displacing it up todifferent levels. Again with reference to the accompanying drawings, andin particular to FIGS. 1–18, the knitting head 100 is provided, in aknown manner, with a cylinder 1, needles 2, sinkers 3, and a sinkerscase 4. The completion of an article 6, such as a stocking, is made onthe knitting head 100 with the use of a plate group 5. Upon completionof the knitting, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the stocking or article 6 hasthe configuration in which the tubular part is knitted and the toeremains open.

At this point, the plate 5 is lifted (see FIG. 2) in a known mannerwhich, therefore, will not be described herein in detail. At the sametime, the needles 2 of the knitting head 100 are lifted so as to moveeach stitch of article 6 to the position so-called “unloaded” intechnical jargon, that is, to a level along the needle which is belowthe latch 201 of the needle 2 (numeral 200 indicating the needle'shead).

As mentioned before, and as shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus in questioncomprises the movable carrier 300 supported by the arm 10 which allowsthe vertical and rotational movement thereof. After the plate 5 is movedaway, the movable carrier 300, provided with means for the removal ofthe article, is superimposed to the knitting head 100. In this phase,the needles 2 are further lifted so as to move the stitches above thesinkers 3.

Before describing the operation of the apparatus any further, let uspoint out the characteristics of the movable carrier 300 by makingreference in particular to FIGS. 19–35. The movable carrier 300 exhibitsa support body 11 on which relevant hooks 14 are fixed and intended tomove the stitches during the removal of the needles 2 from the knittinghead 100. The supporting body 11 has a hollow cylindrical shape with twocross-sections: one upper cross-section of greater diameter 110 and onelower cross-section of smaller diameter 111. The hooks 14 are insertedinto a corresponding number of slots 130 vertically disposed andpresented by a hook-supporting crown 13 located externally and coaxiallyto the body 11 which supports the movable carrier 300.

Moreover, the support body 11 exhibits, in correspondence of the regionconnecting the upper 110 with the lower 111 section a projectingperipheral edge or frame 112. Coming to rest on the frame 112 is ahollow cylindrical element 12 which defines a cam. The cam element 12results interposed between the body 11 and the crown 13 supporting thehooks 14. As best shown in FIG. 19, the hooks 14 have, when viewedlaterally, a substantially “L” shape, with the short leg 145 of the “L”being disposed below. The upper end 140 of the hooks 14 is inserted intoan annular cavity 131, of rectangular cross-section, formed on theoutside of crown 13. In correspondence of the said upper end 140, thehooks 14 exhibit a groove 141 on their outer side (that is, on the sidefacing centrifugally relative to the movable carrier 300). On the innerside (that is, centripetally with respect to carrier 300), the end 140has a triangular portion defining a step 142 connected with the apex 144of the upper end 140 via an oblique portion 143, that is, a portion withoblique edge to the longitudinal development of the stem of hook 14.

Housed within the grooves 141 of hooks 14 is an elastic ring (designatedby numeral 8 in FIG. 13 only, for the sake of clarity) which retains thesaid ends 140 inside the cavity 131 of crown 13. In this way, in theabsence of further interventions, the oblique portions 143 of the hooksresult in contact with and parallel to the vertical wall of cavity 131,as they are kept so retained by the elastic reaction force of the abovementioned ring. This determines an outwardly inclination of the stems ofhooks 14, which, owing to the action of the elastic ring, result in anopen configuration such as that shown also in FIGS. 3 and 4. Besides,the presence of the step or tooth 142 determines a restraint to thedownward displacement of the hooks 14 within the slots 130 where theyare inserted.

Provided externally to the crown 13 is a ring 15 (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “hook-closing ring”) intended for moving the hooks 14.The ring 15 is fitted on the crown 13 and is able to slide verticallyrelative to the same crown. Provided on the hook-closing ring 15 are oneor more helicoidal slots 150. The helicoidal slots 150 act like camsable to determine the vertical movement of the hook-closing ring 15 incorrespondence of the rotational movement of relevant pivots insertedinto the slots 150.

Moreover, oblique slots 120 are formed on the cam element 12 to receivecorresponding pivots 132 (in FIG. 28, numeral 132 designates the axis ofone of the pivots 132) which connect the cam element 12 with the crown13 so as to allow the vertical movement of the latter upon thedisplacement of pivots 132 within the cams defined by the oblique slots120. In FIG. 28, besides, numeral 134 designates a hole, and numeral 135designates the axis of the pivot inserted therein and able to connectthe support body 11 with the crown 15. Provided on the lower portion ofthe support body 11 are two groups of removal members 26, 25 (alsocalled punches in the present description) to be associated,respectively, with the first and second semi-rank of the article knittedon the knitting machine 100. In some of the attached figures, only onepunch or removal member 25 or 26 is shown, for the sake of clarity, whena plurality of these members is provided in repeating series, such as inFIGS. 23, 25, 28, 29 and others. Referring now to FIGS. 3–18, fixed inthe left side of the lower portion of the support body 11 is a crown 20supporting the removal members 25 of the second semi-rank. As bestviewable in FIG. 34, the crown 20 has a half thereof provided with seatsfor the punches 25. The removal members 26 of the first semi-rank aredisposed on a semicrown 21 supported by a semicircular sector 22 hingedto the lower portion 11 of body 11 in correspondence of twodiametrically opposite hinges 23. As will be described later on ingreater detail, the semicircular sector 22 can be rotated through 180°so as to dispose the semicrown 21 of the first semi-rank below the crown20 of the second semi-rank. Moreover, with reference in particular toFIG. 30, provision is made for cylindrical containers 88 on thesemicircular sector 22 to receive stitch-pushing springs to be describedbelow, while holes 89 are provided for the passage of vertical bars 16described with reference to FIGS. 75–80, and holes 87 for the passage ofscrews (not shown) for fixing the crown 20 to the body 11. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment (as best illustrated in FIGS. 61–67),the removal members 26 of the first semi-rank are essentially made up ofa rectilinear and flat body which is tapered in its distal end 251. Incorrespondence of said end 251, on the side in which the taper begins, anotch 252 is formed within the thickness of the said body to receive theneedle 2 of the knitting head 100 during the removal phase (asillustrated in FIGS. 68–70). On the opposite or proximal side, theremoval member 26 exhibits a stem 250 by which it is retained firmly bythe support means defined by the semicrown 21. The removal members 25 ofthe second semi-rank (see FIGS. 55–60) are like those of the firstsemi-rank above described, as far as the free end 251 and the cavity 252allowing the engagement thereof with the needle of the knitting machineare concerned, but they differ in the stem's region. (In FIG. 69,numerals 25 and 26 refer generically to a removal member which issimilar for both first and second semi-rank; FIG. 70 also shows ageneric stem 250 as this part is similar for the first and secondsemi-rank). The above characteristic differentiation of the stem'sregion is due to the difference of the support means (that is, crown 20)which allow an oscillatory movement with radial direction, that is, with“in-out” direction with respect to the circumference of the needles.This results of advantage in allowing a good covering during theengagement for the transfer of the stitches of the first semi-rank ontothe removal members of the second semi-rank since, by a centripetalmovement of the free ends of the removal members of the secondsemi-rank, it is safer to have the apexes of the ends of the latterinserted into respective cavities of the removal members of the firstsemi-rank (see FIGS. 71–74). In this context, the term “covering” refersto the partial overlapping of two elements (for example, two removalmembers, or one removal member and one needle) to allow the passage of astitch from one to another of said elements without having any deadregions or times in which the stitch is not engaged by one of the twoelements. In FIG. 74 at 66, two stitches of the article 6 areschematically represented as they are made to pass from the removalmember 26 to the removal member 25, thanks to the above said coveringsituation.

The above described movement is centripetally induced by a spring (orother elastic body) which is opposed by a semi-ring or semi-crown 24acting on the inside of stems 250 of the same removal members 25 where aspecial profile (indicated with 254) acts as a cam upon the variation oflongitudinal position of said semi-ring 24. In practice, when thesemi-ring 24 interacts with the profile 254 (stem's minor section) theremoval member is maintained in the inner position; when, instead, thesemi-ring 24 interacts with the removal member's portion closest to apex251 (major section), the removal member 26 is pushed outwardly. Withreference to the examples of the attached drawings, FIGS. 75–80 show howthe removal member 25 is inclined either inwardly or outwardly accordingto the operating phase. In particular, FIG. 75 shows (partially) themovable carrier in removal position in which the removal member 25 iskept facing outwardly (direction indicated by the arrow V); on thecontrary, in FIG. 76 the removal member is in a stitch-transfer positionand is kept facing inwardly by the action of spring 19 (an elastic ringin the illustrated example) being not opposed by the semi-ring 24 which,in fact, lies in the profile 254 of the removal member; again in thisfigure an arrow (W) indicates the direction of displacement of theremoval member 25.

In FIGS. 75–83 are shown some details that do not appear in thepreceding figures, for example, pneumatic cylinders 29 provided on thearm 10. The pneumatic cylinders 29 operate via relevant rods 90 on asupport element 17 exhibiting vertical bars 16 facing downwards. Thesupport element 17 is vertically slidable inside the support body 11,and springs 18 are disposed between the latter and the support element17 to provide a reaction able to push the element 17 upwards, that is,in a direction opposite to that of the downward thrust of rods 90. Insome of the drawings, the springs 18 are represented only partially.With reference to FIGS. 75–80 in particular, the activation of thecylinder 29 causes the lowering of the rod 90, with the consequentdownward displacement of the support element 17. This determines thelowering of the bar 16 which (as indicated by the arrows Z in FIG. 75)pushes down the semi-crown 24, so that the latter, being no longer incorrespondence of the cam profile 254, pushes the removal member 25outwardly (arrow V). On the contrary, when the bar 16 is brought backupwards (arrow T in FIG. 76), the semi-crown 24 too moves up to engagethe profile 254, and the action of the spring 19 wins that of theremoval member 25 which is thus kept inwardly (arrow W).

FIGS. 81–84 show an alternative embodiment of the said removal members25. In this embodiment, each removal member 25 is fixed on the relevantcrown 20, and the covering condition is obtained by disposing theremoval members 26 of the first semi-rank and those of the secondsemi-rank over two ideal circumferences of different radius and/orproviding a group (for example, the punches 26) of larger size withrespect to the other group of punches. These characteristics are moreevident by the detail of FIG. 84 where the punch 26 of the firstsemi-rank results further externally (as it lies on a circumference oflarger radius) than the punch 25 of the second semi-rank and, besides,it has a size larger than the other.

As above mentioned, once the group of plate 5 has been moved away, themovable carrier 300 is placed above the knitting machine 100.

At this point (see FIG. 4), the removal members 25 and 26 are movedcloser to the respective needle heads, and the interaction between theneedles 2 and removal members 25, 26 is similar to that illustrated inFIGS. 68–70. Afterwards (FIG. 5), the hook-closing ring 15 is lowered,thereby determining the positioning of the hooks 14 below the stitchesto be removed which are, therefore, in their closed configuration. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, the support crown 13 is lifted, along with thehooks 14 supported by the same crown, so that the hooks move thearticle's stitches upwards and the latter disengage from the needles 2to pass onto the removal members 25 and 26. Thereafter (FIGS. 7, 8, 9),the movable carrier 300 is further lifted and moved away form theknitting head 100 to take the article on to a hook-up station providedwith an inside-out turning tube 30 in which the article 6 is inserted.The moving of article 6 away from the knitting head 100 can be effectedsoon after removing the stitches from the needles of the knitting head,as above described, or it can be effected afterwards, for example, in apossible alternative embodiment of the method, after the phase—to bedescribed later on—in which the stitches of the two semi-ranks are movedclose to each other.

FIGS. 36–53 illustrate embodiments, to be described later on in details,of the inside-out-turning tube 30. The general structure of said tubecan be imagined, for example, like a tubular body inside which thearticle is inserted when the stitches of the last semi-rank, that is,the removed stitches, are still disposed around a circumference, thatis, prior to the overturning through 180° of the first semi-rank.Thereafter, by a longitudinal movement, the article engaged on the tubeis forced to pass through the open end of the tube, thereby causing theinside-out turning of the article, with the stocking that will be fittedoutside the tubular body.

The inside-out-turning tube 30 is then lifted (FIGS. 9–11) thus causingthe inside-out turning of the article which results fitted on theoutside of the tube 30, with the initial end of the same article facingupwards and above the rank of stitches removed by the removal members.In the final phase (illustrated in FIG. 11), the inside-out turning tube30 is engaged with relevant support means (not shown) in correspondenceof its upper end, whereas the lower end of the tube remains free andabove the plane of the removed stitches.

The inside-out turning phases above described, and those to be describedbelow for preparing the hook-up operation, can be carried out at anypoint of the path of the movable carrier, that is, at positionsdifferent from the one described herein by way of example.

Afterwards, the hook-closing ring 15 is moved upwards therebydetermining the opening of the hooks 14, that is, their displacement incentripetal direction.

At this point (see FIGS. 12–14), the stitches of the article's firstsemi-rank supported by removal members 26 are transferred by anoverturning thereof of substantially 180° about the diametral axis whichideally divides the circumference of the removed rank into twosemi-ranks. Thus, each removal member 26 of the first semi-rank lies incorrespondence of a removal member 25 of the second semi-rank, with therespective free ends close to each other in a configuration similar tothat described with reference to FIGS. 71–74; in this configuration,each stitch of the first semi-rank results juxtaposed and coaxial to thecorresponding stitch of the second semi-rank.

At this point, through the action of a pusher 31 acting from the bottomupwards, a stitch-pushing semi-crown 28 makes the stitches slide alongthe removal members 26 to take them up onto the removal members 25 ofthe second semi-ranks located above.

Subsequently, the removal members 26 of the first semi-rank are broughtback to their original position by the above said overturning operatedin opposite direction.

Depicted in the lower side of FIG. 14 is a portion of the closing and/orhook-up machine 400, comprising a support body 42, a crown 41 withrelevant hook-up spines 40, all being well known elements which,therefore, need not to be described in detail.

With reference to FIGS. 15–18, the hook-up spines 40 are moved close tothe removal members 25 which, as already mentioned, support the twooverlapping semi-ranks of the article; afterwards, owing to thedownwardly directed push of a stitch-pushing semi-crown 27 coaxial tothe circumference formed by the removal members 25, the stitches aretransferred onto the spines 40.

The semi-crowns 27 and 28 are shaped alike a semicircular comb, with aseries of slots 270 and 280 angularly spaced apart by such extents whichcorrespond to the angular displacement between the removal members 26and 25, so that the same semi-crowns are able to slide along the removalmembers while guided vertically by the latter.

Shown in FIG. 17 is a hook-up needle 43, by means of which the hook-upof stitches and/or pairs of stitches being fitted on spines is performedin a known manner by carrying out the necessary chain-closing knots.

According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 87–88, thepairs of stitches of the two semi-ranks, can be supported—during theclosing/hooking-up of the toe of stocking 6—by the punches 25 of thesecond semi-rank, and a hook-up needle 43 can be brought close to thelatter, which needle, instead of operating the hook-up on spinesprovided for this purpose, will perform such operation by exploiting thepunches 25 which, advantageously, exhibit the said cavity 252, that is,the one used for the engagement of the needle 2.

Finally (FIG. 18), once the stitches have been hooked-up onto the spines(or, likewise to the example of FIGS. 87–88, onto the punches 25 of thesecond semi-rank located on the movable carrier), the article 6 ispushed inside the same inside-out turning tube 30 so as to take up aright-side-out condition. This operation can be carried out by using abar 32 to be inserted into the tube 30 by an extent sufficient tocomplete the right-side-out arrangement of the article which, after suchoperation, is definitely ejected.

As above mentioned, FIGS. 36–53 show exemplary embodiments of theinside-out-turning tube 30.

One way to perform the introduction of the article into theinside-out-turning tube 30 may consist in aspirating the article insidea single tubular element. With reference to the examples illustrated bythe drawings, the body of tube 30 may consist of two coaxial elements35, 36 whose front or upper-ends 350, 360, that is, those facing thearticle before the inside-out-turning thereof, are so shaped as todefine alternately a closed or open ring by a rotation of said twoelements relative to each other and about the common longitudinal axis.A so-formed device allows inserting the article thereinside by atransverse movement when the mouth portion is in open condition(semi-ring configuration) and definitely “trapping” the same article bya closing of its perimeter.

The outer tubular element 35 has below a cylindrical closed shape; fromits mid portion upwards, it exhibits a semi-cylindrical shape, that is,a wall 353 developing through about 180° on one side only with respectto the longitudinal axis, thereby defining a corresponding lateralopening or port 352 having longitudinal development; in the upper end,the element 35 exhibits a semi-ring 351 defined by a cylindrical surfaceof a relatively limited height and extending approximately through 180°on the side opposite to the wall 353.

The inner tubular element 36 has in its lower part, likewise the element35, a closed cylindrical shape; from its mid portion up to the upper end360, it exhibits a semi-cylindrical shape, that is, a wall 363developing through approximately 180° on one side only with respect tothe longitudinal axis, thereby defining a corresponding lateral openingor port 362 having longitudinal development; the upper end 360 is thusdefined by the upper edge 361 of the wall 363.

When the tube 30 is in its open configuration, the semi-ring 351 of theouter element 35 encircles the edge 361 of the inner element; in thisway, it is possible to introduce the article 6 inside the tube by asimple translation movement without the need of moving the tubevertically downwards by a stroke which would be substantially equal tothe length of the knitted article. This brings about a significantreduction of the apparatus overall dimensions. Thereafter, by a simplerelative rotation of the two elements 35 and 36 the tube 30 is closed,thereby allowing the inside-out-turning operation.

The structure of the said tube can be imagined, for example, like atubular body inside which the article is inserted when the stitches ofthe last semi-rank, that is, the removed stitches, are still disposedaround a circumference, that is, prior to the overturning through 180°of the first semi-rank. Thereafter, by a longitudinal movement, thearticle engaged on the tube is forced to pass through the open end ofthe tube and is thus turned inside-out. It will be appreciated that, atthis point, the stocking is fitted outside the tubular body. The saidtubular body, after the said movement, remains engaged with a supportlocated on the side opposite to the article. After the hook-upoperation, the now closed toe of the article will result in proximity ofthe tube's mouth, so that, by inserting a core of suitable size into thetube's mouth, the same core will be in contact with the article's fabricand, by keeping to move downwards will drive the same article along withit and the latter, by sliding over the edge of the tube will movethereinside by taking up the right-side out configuration which it hadoriginally. Such operation can be carried out and/or assisted by apneumatic or suction flow. After the ejection of the article, the abovedescribed tubular body can be brought back to its initial position toperform its function in the subsequent cycle.

Practically, the construction details may vary in any equivalent way asfar as the shape, dimensions, elements disposition, nature of the usedmaterials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from the scopeof the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within the limitsof the protection granted to the present patent.

1. Method for joining the edges of a tubular knitted article upon thecompletion of the latter on a circular machine, characterized in that itcomprises the following operating steps: a) knitting the article bystarting on one edge or hem to end up on the toe side by leaving thelatter open; b) moving the machine's removable parts away from theknitting head of the same circular machine so as to clear the top of thecylinder of needles; c) removing the stitches of the last knitted rankand retaining them onto suitable removal means supported by a movablecarrier between a knitting station defined by the knitting head of saidmachine and a closing station located at a preset distance form theother station; d) moving said removal means together with the articleaway from the machine's knitting head to move the same article up tosaid closing station; e) turning the article inside-out while it isretained by said removal means; f) moving the stitches of a firstsemi-rank, corresponding in practice to half the stitches retained bysaid removal means, so that, by an overturning through approximately 180about a diametral axis of the circumference defined by the removalmeans, each of the moved stitches will result juxtaposed and coaxial tothe corresponding stitch of the other semi-rank's stitches; g) movingthe stitches of the pairs close to each other; h) carrying out thehook-up of said pairs of stitches so as to obtain the definitive unionof the edges of the article; I) unloading the article from the means onwhich the hook-up operation has been performed.
 2. Method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the said step d) of moving the articleaway from the knitting head is performed after the step e) ofinside-out-turning the article.
 3. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the said step d) of moving the article away fromthe knitting head is performed after the step f) of transferring thestitches.
 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the saidstep d) of moving the article away from the knitting head is performedafter the step g) of approaching the stitches.
 5. Method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the step g) of approaching the stitchesis carried out on the means that support the stitches of a secondsemi-rank, that is, a semi-rank of stitches which the overturnedstitches are brought near to.
 6. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the step g) of approaching the stitches is carriedout on the means that support the stitches of a first semi-rank, thatis, a semi-rank whose stitches are overturned.
 7. Method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the said step h) is carried out on thesame removal means.
 8. Method according to claim 1, characterized inthat the said step h) is carried out on means which support the pairs ofstitches and do not belong to the removal means and upon the transfer ofthe pairs of stitches onto said means.
 9. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that the article is moved back to its right-side outcondition after unloading it from the support means for the hook-up. 10.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the article is movedback to its right-side out condition by the same means which operate thesaid inside-out turning step e).
 11. Method according to claim 1,characterized in that separate means of said movable carrier are usedfor the removal respectively of the stitches of the first and secondsemi-ranks.
 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that themeans for the removal of the stitches from the first semi-rank are movedrelative to the means for the removal of the stitches from the secondsemi-rank.
 13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that meansare used for the removal of stitches from the first semi-rank, saidmeans being disposed along an arc of circumference having a radiusdifferent from that of a corresponding arc of circumference on which themeans for the removal of the second semi-rank are disposed.
 14. Methodaccording to claim 11, characterized in that means are used for theremoval of stitches from the first semi-rank which have differentdimensions from those of the means for the removal of the secondsemi-rank.
 15. Apparatus for joining the edges of a tubular knittedarticle upon the completion of the tubular knitted article on a circularmachine, characterized in that it comprises a movable carrier able to beassociated with a knitting head of a circular machine and movablebetween said knitting head and a closing station, said carriersupporting means for the removal of stitches of the last knitted rank,comprising means for the removal of one semi-rank, that is, of half thestitches of said last knitted rank, and means for the removal of theother semi-rank, and in that the same movable carrier is provided withdriving means and transfer means able to move the stitches of onesemi-rank onto the means which remove the other semi-rank.
 16. Apparatusaccording to claim 15, characterized in that the said movable carriercomprises a support body on which hooks are provided intended to movethe stitches onto the needles of the knitting head during the removalthereof.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that thesaid hooks are inserted into corresponding slots disposed vertically andexhibiting a crown for supporting the hooks which is disposed externallyand coaxially to said support body.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17,characterized in that it is provided with a hollow cylindrical elementor cam element interposed between the said body and said crown. 19.Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the said hookshave substantially an “L” shape, the short leg of which is disposedbelow, and the upper end of which is inserted into an annular cavity ofrectangular cross-section, externally presented by said crown, the saidhooks exhibiting, in correspondence of said upper end, a groove on theouter side and a triangular portion defining a step on the inner side,said step being connected with the apex of the upper end via an obliqueportion; an elastic ring being received in said grooves and retainingsaid ends inside said cavity thereby causing, when in openconfiguration, the stems of the hooks to be inclined outwardly. 20.Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that externally tosaid crown provision is made for a ring intended to move the said hooks,and being fitted on the crown for sliding vertically relative thereto,the same ring having one or more spiral slots which define correspondingcams able to drive vertically said ring upon a rotary movement ofcorresponding pivots inserted into the slots.
 21. Apparatus according toclaim 18, characterized in that the said cam element exhibits one ormore slots wherein corresponding pivots are inserted for connecting thesame cam element with the crown.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 15,characterized in that the said removal means comprise a first semi-crownwhich supports the removal members of the first semi-rank and a secondcrown which supports the members for the removal of the secondsemi-rank, said members for the removal of the first semi-rank beingdisposed on a semicircular sector hinged on the body of the movablecarrier in correspondence of two hinges disposed diametrically opposite.23. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the saidmeans for the removal of the first semi-rank are made up of a straightand flat body which in its distal end is tapered and provided, on thetaper side, with a notch, and on the opposite side has a stem by whichit is retained firmly by relevant support means.
 24. Apparatus accordingto claim 15, characterized in that the said means for the removal of thesecond semi-rank are made up of a removal member with a straight andflat body which in its distal end is tapered and, on the taper side, isprovided with a notch, and on the opposite side has a stem with aprofile which defines a cam.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 24,characterized in that it comprises an elastic means of reaction and asemi-ring, disposed and acting, with opposite directions, on saidremoval member.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized inthat said elastic means has a reaction directed centripetally and saidsemi-ring interacts with the profile of said removal member. 27.Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the said membersfor the removal of the first semi-rank are disposed on said semi-crownalong an arc of circumference having a radius different from that of acorresponding arc of circumference on which the means for the removal ofthe second semi-rank are disposed.
 28. Apparatus according to claim 22,characterized in that the said members for the removal of the firstsemi-rank have dimension different from that of the members for theremoval of the second semi-rank.
 29. Apparatus according to claim 22,characterized in that it comprises a stitch-pushing semi-crown able topush the stitches of the article along the first semi-rank- removingmembers and move them up onto the second semi- rank-removing members.30. Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprisesa second stitch-pushing semi-crown able to push the pairs of stitches ofarticle, which are engaged on the second semi-rank-removing members,onto corresponding means provided in the closing and hooking- upstation.
 31. Apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that thesaid semi-crowns are substantially comb- like shaped, with a series ofslots angularly spaced apart by extents corresponding to the relevantangular displacements existing between respective first and secondsemi-rank-removing members.
 32. Apparatus according to claim 15,characterized in that it comprises a device for turning the articleinside-out.
 33. Apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in thatthe inside-out turning device comprises a inside-out-turning tubemovable between two positions for the inside-out-turning operation, andwithin which the article is introduced before being turned inside-out.34. Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that it comprisesmeans able to generate a pneumatic flow inside said inside-out-turningtube.
 35. Apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that itcomprises an inside-out-turning tube made up of two coaxial elementsfitted one onto the other and whose front ends, that is, those facingthe article prior to the inside-out-turning operation, are so shaped asto define, alternately, a closed ring or an open semi-ring by a rotationof the two elements relative to each other and about the commonlongitudinal axis.
 36. Apparatus according to claim 35, characterized inthat the outer tubular element exhibits, in correspondence of said end,a semi-ring defined by a cylindrical surface extending through 180approximately.
 37. Apparatus according to claim 35, characterized inthat the inner tubular element exhibits, in correspondence of its end, asemi-cylindrical shape, that is, a wall developing over 180approximately on one side only with respect to the longitudinal axis.